78th Air Refueling Squadron

78th Air Refueling Squadron
A squadron KC-10 Extender refueling an SR-71 Blackbird aircraft during testing
Active	1943–1945; 1947–1952; 1952–1954; 1955–1957; 1959–1973; 1981–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Air refueling
Part of	Air Force Reserve Command
Garrison/HQ	McGuire Air Force Base
Nickname(s)	The Captain Shreve Squadron
Motto(s)	"Steam On"
Engagements	Operation Overlord Operation Dragoon Operation Market Garden Operation Varsity
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award RVGC w/ Palm
Insignia
78th Air Refueling Squadron emblem (approved 17 August 1984)[1]
78th Troop Carrier Squadron emblem (approved 26 October 1943)[2]

The 78th Air Refueling Squadron was part of the 514th Air Mobility Wing at McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey. It operated the KC-46A Pegasus aircraft conducting aerial refueling missions as a reserve associate of the 305th Air Mobility Wing.

The unit was first activated as a Douglas C-47 Skytrain transport unit that saw combat with the 435th Troop Carrier Group in Western Europe. The squadron flew paratroopers on airborne assaults on Normandy (Operation Overlord); Southern France (Operation Dragoon); the Netherlands (Operation Market Garden), and Germany (Operation Varsity). It also flew combat resupply missions in the relief of Bastogne in 1945. The 78th was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation for its actions during the Normandy invasion.

The squadron was activated in the reserve in 1947. It was called to active duty in March 1951 for the Korean War, serving at its home station, Miami International Airport. It returned to reserve duty in December 1952, but it was activated in 1954. The squadron was activated again in 1955 as part of a program to improve recruiting by spreading reserve units to smaller population centers.